Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-09-22

of our public Libraries have observed
the great and growing demand for work
upon both the history and the Constl.
tuition of the United States.
There was an occurrence in the Treas
ury day or two since that illustrated
the practical working and benefit of
true civil service rcform-the discovery
by paying teller Gibson Of fraudulent
check that had Been raised from 81 to
$2,45O, which had passed unchallenged
though the hands of several banks
haying been issued two years ago. II
this trained expert had been turned
out for political reasons, the probability
is that the United States Treasurer
would be out over $4,000.
1t is thought that Secretary Bayard
desires an Eastern man to fill the va
cancy in the office of his First Assist
ant and among those prominentlynamed
for the position is the Hon. Perry Bel
mont the young Congressman from New
York, who was chairman Of the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs in the last
Congress but hardly think it proba-
BILE that, great as is the Empire State, it
is entitled to a third place i'll the Cab
met, l had almost said, though it is
nearly as important as that.
The project to connect the Capital
with the tomb Of Washington by means
of great railroad, to be called Mt.
Vernon Avenue. is assuming definite
shape-a public meeting having taken
all necessary preliminary steps to put
the patriotic enterprise on a successful
footing, and it is quite probable that
the work will be ultimately pushed. to
completion, rs it has excited wide.
spread interest that will materiallze in
substantial manner.
There died in this city last week, at
the age Of rs years. the last grand
daughter Of Thomas Jefferson, Mrs.
Septima Randolph Meikleham, a lady
who bore remarkable personal resem.
blance to her honored relative, and
whose mind was stored with many IN.
teresting "reminiscences Of the great sage
and patriot, as he rocked her on his
knee at beautiful Monticello early in
the present century, and later when as
a young lady she became the states-
man'sfavorite grand-child. Mrs. MEEK
leham leaves three children, one Of
whom, Miss. Alice is clerk in the Pat
ent Office. A few years since an at.
tempt was made in Congress to pension
this venerable lady, but it failed.
The only contested election case in
the history Of Congress furnishing q
probable parallel to the contest of Thobe
against Carlisle at the approaching ses-
sion occurred in the Twenty.eight Con-
gress. In the House Of Representatives
of that Congress John Minor Bolts,
whig, contested the election of John H
Jones Of Virginia. Mr. Jones was elect.
ed Speaker of the house by his party
majority, and he appointed all the com.
mittces except that on election. Instead
Of appointing that committee Speaker
Jones called one Of the democratic
members to preside, and, taking the
floor, asked PERMISSION to make q per.
sonal explanation. He stated that his
seat was contested by gentleman who
had run against him at the late election
and that as the committee on elections
would have to determine the case, he
was not willing to appoint that conf
mittee. He asked the House to take
the matter in its hands and elect mem.
bers to constitute the committee on cleo
tons. After Speaker Jones had con-
cluded his statement, several motions
were made, but one to the effect that
the member whom Mr. Jones had call.
ed to the chair, the then acting speak
or, be authorized to appoint the election
committee was carried. The committee
was appointed by the acting speaker,
and that committee heard and deter
mined the contest. 1t is presumed
that the case Of Butts against Jones
may furnish precedent for Carlisle in
the coming Congress in the contest of
Thobe for his seat There seems to be
but little doubt that if Carlisle lives
he will be reelected speaker. He will
then be in the same attitude as that
Mr.. Jones was in, and the impression
is that Mr.. Carlisle will ask the House
to appoint the committee IN the man
ner it may deem best.
The growing hostility in this country
to the encouragement Of unrestricted
;,n,,;,r,t,o, hasod IN tho oon oidar,